Pope Athletics Thriving in Class AAAA

Some high schools receive news of their athletic reclassification with disappointment, because the action usually means dropping down a level. 

But at Pope High School, the move from Class AAAAA to Class AAAA in the Georgia High School Association has been a bonanza. 

Halfway through the school year, the Greyhounds are currently second in the Class AAAA division of the Georgia Athletic Directors Association's Directors Cup standings, trailing only Marist for the designation of having the most successful all-around athletic program in the state.  

More importantly, some teams now have better chances to compete than they had in Class AAAAA, according to Pope athletic director Steven Craft.

"A lot of people were hesitant to begin with, but it's been great because we're playing against schools our own size," he said. 

Pope's enrollment of 1,790 is around 1,000 less than nearby Walton. While those East Cobb neighbors still play each other in a number of sports (the football rivalry is on hiatus), being paired in regional competition with similar-size schools has made a difference across the board. 

"In Class AAAAA, we'd finish in the Top 20 [of the Directors Cup] every so often," Craft said. "But where we are now has a lot of people here really excited in so many sports."

Two Pope teams that have been traditionally strong have become even more dominant.

The Pope volleyball team, which won the Class AAAAA state championship in 2009, took home the Georgia crown in Class AAAA last fall, becoming the first team in state history to "repeat" in a lower classification. The Greyhounds werestling team, a contender at the top level, is currently ranked No. 1 in Class AAAA heading into this weekend's sectional meet. 

The Pope softball team qualified for the state tournament, the cross country team finished in the Top 10, the swimming and diving team is strong heading into this weekend's state meet at Georgia Tech and the football team earned its first trip to the state playoffs in a decade. 

"And we did that playing in what I think is one of the toughest football regions in Class AAAA," Craft said of Region 5AAAA, with North subregion foes Kell, Hiram and East Paulding also making the post-season. The Greyhounds were defeated in the first round by eventual state champion Chattahoochee. 

In the other winter sports, the Pope boys basketball team has already clinched the top seed in the Region 5AAAA tournament, while the girls lead the subregion and have posted a 20-win season. 

Individual athletes also have been earning praise. Volleyball hitter Mary Hoey was named the Gatorade Georgia Player of the Year, softball player Natalie Lampert was named a first-team all-state player and football guard Thomas O'Reilly, an all-state performer, signed with college football national champion Auburn, where is already attending classes. 

Three-sport star Garrett Brown, who's currently driving the boys basketball team's success, recently received an appointment to the Air Force Academy. 

The reclassification period lasts two years, but Craft said Pope likely will stay in Class AAAA after the next school year because attendance projections don't show the steep increase that would be required to move back up.

But as far as Pope's athletes and coaches are concerned, the step "down" has been a welcome step forward.